Patent GB-1177785-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Telecommunications Systems Subscribers' Charges Evaluating Arrangements
IPC: H04M15/04
Filed: 1967-02-07
Abstract: 1,177,785. Automatic exchange systems. SIEMENS A.G. 7 Feb., 1967 [8 Feb., 1966], No. 5760/67. Heading H4K. Class of service data stored in an exchange is used to effect fixed charges for special services on a per call basis and is used by an accounts office in preparing quarterly bills to effect fixed quarterly charges taking special services into account. The services attracting special charges are: ringing a busy line to indicate a call waiting, breaking in on a busy line, conference connections, call transfer, service calls from the exchange such as automatic ADC and calls at a prearranged time, a simulated busy condition to prevent a party being disturbed or diversion of calls from such a party to an announcement machine, such services also including party lines and sub-stations with special equipment such as data terminals. As shown in the drawing subscribers TN are served by a switching network VE controlled by a marker ST and a store SP associated with the marker by allotment. An identifier JD and originating relays sets RSAS and terminating relay sets RSBS are also shown. Subscribers accumulated metering totals and charge data are recorded in a charge store GSP the contents of which relating to individual subscribers can be read out to a register GJR and be processed through an adder A in accordance with additional charge units presented from a so-called coder C and a multiplier M. The calling subscriber's identity is stored in relay set RSAS and metering pulses for a call may be accumulated in the relay set and be processed as a sub-total at the end of a call. Each meter pulse may be processed as it arrives, a signal on RSAS lead 1 being applied to the multiplier M while the calling subscriber's address on RSAS lead 2 delivers that subscriber's metering total to register GJR from charge store GSP. If the minimum charging rate is in force the multiplier M signals one charge unit to the adder A to be added to the total in GJR from whence it is returned to GSP. If a special rate is applicable to the call the charging data is signalled from RSAS lead 6 so that in coincidence with pulses to terminals P6 and P7, from a control circuit not shown or otherwise described, the multiplier M for each metering pulse received, or only in respect of the first such pulse, transmits a number of charge units greater than one to the adder. If charges are reversed, the called line identity and charge data in terminating relay set RSBS govern metering in the same manner as for a calling party. A request for a special service from a calling subscriber is registered in relay set RSAS, or RSBS for such a request from a called subscriber, and a fixed charge for the service is levied by the appearance of the code on RSAS lead 6, or the corresponding lead 11 of RSBS; the code over gates U7 and U6 in coincidence with control pulses on terminals P5 and P6 being applied to a coder C which translates the special service code into a fixed number of charge units for addition to the subscriber's total in adder A. Where the service is not requested but is implicit in the use of the subscriber's sub-station as with data sets, the class of service mark is recorded in the charge store and when read out to the register GJR is presented over gate U5 coincident with a control pulse on P4 so that the coder C is activated to deliver the appropriate number of charge units to the adder A. While class of service may be recorded in subscribers locations of the charge store GSP, it may also be recorded in a general class of service store or in stores separately provided for each class of service. Registration of class of service codes may be done from an operator's position or may be dialled in by the subscriber himself or from a remote accounts office. Communication with the accounts office is by way of a receiver DE and a sender DS, individual storage locations of GSP being accessible to the remote office by control of the address register AS over lead 12 and access to register GJR over lead 13, together with direct access to the adder A. The collection of subscriber's accumulated metering totals with fixed quarterly charges either included or separate can be effected by the accounts office either for individual subscribers, or by using cyclic address register AG for all subscribers in turn; the sender DS being conditioned to transmit the charge totals as they are read out of GJR. Class of service data accompanying the totals in GJR over gate U5 being employed to compute the fixed charge as indicated by coder C. Automatic calling up of a subscriber, to ring at a time specified by the subscriber on the basis of a dialled code, is effected by a cyclic address register AG which presents the corresponding service data in GSP to a clock controlled comparator UV. When the clock time in UV matches the required calling time in GSP gate U1 opens to instruct announcement machine AU to set up the call and announce the time.